BU’s vice president for research to take Vermont post

Frances Carr, Binghamton University’s vice president for research, has accepted a newly created post as vice president for research and dean of the graduate college at the University of Vermont.

“The decision to leave Binghamton has been a difficult one,” Carr said. “But we’ve made significant strides in the past several years to enhance Binghamton’s reputation as a research university, and I trust that the University’s energetic faculty, staff and administrators will continue with that commitment.”

President Lois B. DeFleur said Carr was heavily recruited by Vermont. “Binghamton’s reputation as a research institution is on the rise,” said DeFleur. “So it is not surprising that someone of Fran’s caliber would be sought out by other institutions.”

Carr came to Binghamton in 1999 as vice provost for research and graduate studies and in 2000 was promoted to the new post of vice president for research.

With over 20 years of scientific research, teaching and administrative experience, Carr made significant contributions while at Binghamton, advancing leading edge research, enhancing federal relations and helping to guide the establishment of the new Innovative Technologies Complex on the former NYSEG site. She created an office for technology transfer and economic development, fostered new partnerships with industry and community agencies, and facilitated faculty and graduate student recruitment. She is a founding member of the community-based Southern Tier Opportunity Coalition and serves on the board of directors of the Research Foundation of the State University of New York.

“Our commitment to research remains strong, and we will continue to move forward,” said DeFleur. “The University has seen a 51 percent increase in research funding, with a significant boost in federal support, over the last four years. We have enhanced existing research in areas like electronics packaging and are moving into emerging fields like protein dynamics, sensor development and bioengineering. We have talented researchers and are strengthening the infrastructure to support them.”

Carr will leave Binghamton in August. DeFleur said she will seek recommendations in the coming weeks regarding interim leadership for the University’s research effort.